Venice schools receive $200,000 grant

EDWARDSVILLE — Poor children in the Venice School District will get a better start in life thanks to a $200,000 state grant, state and county officials announced Monday.

The district will receive the money under a grant program operated by the Illinois Department of Human Services, said Regional Superintendent of Schools Bob Daiber.

The program is called the Early Care Grant, and it was obtained through the Regional Office of Education.

Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Collinsville, and Sen. James Clayborne, D-Belleville, supported the grant because the Venice Head Start program was closed as a result of federal budget cuts. There is no federal money included in the new grant. Daiber said his office, plus the two legislators, started working two years ago to bring home the grant.

It will be operated at Venice Elementary School, which will save money over the Head Start program because there will be no rent or additional operating cost, Venice Superintendent of Schools Cullen Cullen said.

Officials at a news conference Monday said the Head Start cut was in an area where it is sorely needed. The Venice Head Start was closed by the Head Start Board of Directors in the face of federal budget cuts, officials said.

“The early care program will be a foundational development for children in a region in which 96 percent of the students qualify for free or reduced lunch and 30 percent are classified under federal guidelines as homeless,” Daiber said.

Cullen said the program will include key components of early childhood development, including screening, placement referrals, instruction, nutrition and work with the the families. He said it is important to get involved early in the child’s life, so as not to leave them behind at an early age.

“Children are born ready to learn,” Cullen said.

“It has been proven over and over again that early childhood education makes it more likely for children to be successful,” Hoffman said at the news conference. He said children who receive help, such as Head Start or Early Care, are less likely to drop out of high school and less likely to commit crimes.

Children who attend early childhood programs also find it easier to transition to kindergarten in the public schools, officials said.

“Providing opportunities for our youth in poverty is essential for these children to have foundational skills to begin school. This is a true outcome of this grant,” Clayborne said.

Daiber said at-risk children who do not receive a high quality early childhood education are 25 percent more likely to drop out of school, 40 percent more likely to become a teen parent, 50 percent more likely to be placed is special education, 60 percent more likely to never attend college and 70 percent more likely to be arrested for a violent crime.

“These programs take a holistic approach,” Clayborne said.

Officials said the $200,000 grant is on for one year, but they hope to receive additional funding in the future.

“Although this is a start-up grant that is for one year, it gives Venice School District the opportunity to put a vital program in place and submit application for early childhood funding,” Daiber said.